Flotation assistance device for use in bathing applications

ABSTRACT

A bathing flotation assist device for use by an individual in a bathing enclosure. A buoyant flotation base is conformable to the back of the individual laying thereon such that it will maintain the body of the individual in position along the centre axis of the flotation base. A conformable buoyant head protector and nonconformable buoyant left and right side protection panels are attached, and a removeable fabric cover provides an enhanced gripping surface to the flotation base. By hingedly attaching the side edges of adjacent base elements to each other, the flotation base itself will have the ability to axially flex and bend in the direction of the centre axis of the flotation base in response to the weight of the user, and thus hold or retain the body in safe position in relation to the enclosure axis.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Canadian Patent Application 3,123,340 filed on Jun. 28, 2021, with the title FLOTATION ASSISTANCE DEVICE FOR USE IN BATHING APPLICATIONS, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is in the field of bathing assistance devices for use in recreational and therapeutic applications, and more specifically is a device for flotational assistance of special needs bathers.

BACKGROUND

Many people and particularly those with special physical treatment needs have difficulties bathing in a traditional bathtub as would be found in many houses and other residential locations. For those having difficulties in such an environment they are potentially deprived of the recreational and therapeutic benefits of same.

In particular many individuals are not able to properly or safely float in a tub containing sufficient water to allow for immersion of the body, without the help of care workers or loved ones to help them and keep them safe in such an application. If it were possible to provide a flotational assistance device for use by such individuals in such applications it is believed this would be commercially beneficial and would find a place in the market.

Prior art attempts at flotation devices of this nature include a simple raft shaped slab of reasonably rigid foam, some of which are buoyant and some of which are not, which are used under the body of the bather in the tub. A non-buoyant slab while it may provide some basic padding in the bottom of the tub once the bather is on top of it, does not provide any flotational assistance to the bather or their caregivers. A buoyant slab of material of similar rigidity while it may provide flotational assistance to the bather will not accommodate particular injuries or body contact requirements of the bather any better than the non-buoy similar slab would provide. The shortcomings of these prior art devices include the inability of a non-buoyant padding slab to provide flotational assistance to the bather.

In addition to the need to help such individuals float or bathe safely without drowning, the caregivers involved in helping with such bathing activities for many individuals can use assistance in maintaining the body of the bather in position in relation to the sides of the tub, so that in the case of a seizure or other involuntary muscle movement the bather is not hurt by their head or upper body forcibly encountering the sides of the tub.

Protecting the bather from this danger, of a body collision with the hard surfaces of the tub, is another aspect of safety which needs to be monitored and maintained by caregivers and in respect of which a desirable device or approach would assist.

For some users there might be the need for the device to accommodate a particular area of heightened sensitivity on their back or body in a bath such that a rigid surface of a slab even if buoyant would also not be sufficiently adaptable to the body to permit safe and comfortable use and bathing using prior art devices as well.

One of the ways to address the slippery surface of many types of prior art flotational devices is to provide a gripping or textured surface, which will better engage the skin of the bather in contact and limit the slippage of the bather on the surface. However, a textured surface will by design incorporate a large number of recesses or surface irregularities which are problematic from the perspective of hygiene and cleanliness as the use of such a device for example in daily hygienic routines would require the maintenance of a clean surface to ensure that the bather or caregivers did not encounter any unnecessary health risk such as an infection risk from bacteria in such surface recesses. A flotation device addressing the necessary configuration to maximize the benefits of the device for use special needs bathing applications such as outlined, while permitting for maximized cleanliness or cleanability in use and maintenance of the device, would be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a bathing flotation device which addresses many of the shortcomings identified above in terms of maximizing the utility and comfort of such devices in bathing applications for special needs individuals, including those who might be frail of health or have other physical requirements or impediments which have to date made it difficult or unsafe for them to enjoy the recreational and therapeutic benefits of bathing in a traditional residential environment.

The invention comprises a bathing flotation assist device for use by an individual in a bathing enclosure having at least a back wall and side walls defining a water surface area when the bathing enclosure contains water. The bathing enclosure has an enclosure axis being approximately the direction of positioning of the body of a bather therein, approximately equidistant between the side walls and perpendicular to the back wall.

The flotation assist device comprises the following elements:

-   -   a) a conformable buoyant flotation base having a connecting edge         and a distal edge at the opposite end therefrom and left and         right side edges extending therebetween, said flotation base         being conformable to the back of the individual laying thereon         such that it will maintain the body of the individual in         position along the centre axis of the flotation base;     -   b) a conformable buoyant head protector having a head edge and a         connecting edge at the opposite end therefrom and left and right         side edges extending therebetween, the connecting edges of the         head protector and the flotation base being hingedly attached,         said head protector being conformable to the shoulder region and         head of the individual in contact therewith to maintain said         shoulder region and head in position along the centre axis of         the flotation base;     -   c) nonconformable buoyant left and right head protection panels         each having an attachment edge and left and right side edges,         the attachment edges of the left and right protection panels         being hingedly attached along the left and right edges of the         head protector;     -   d) nonconformable buoyant left and right side protection panels         each having an attachment edge and left and right side edges,         the attachment edges of the left and right side protection         panels being hingedly attached along the left and right edges of         the flotation base;     -   e) at least one removeable fabric cover which will cover the         remainder of the flotation assist device and which will provide         an enhanced gripping surface to the flotation base when the         device is in use, and which can be cleaned with traditional         methods when removed;         wherein the width of the flotation base and head protector         between their respective left and right side edges is         approximately the width of the bathing enclosure between the         side walls thereof;         wherein the length of the left and right side edges of the head         protection panels is sufficient to allow the head protection         panels to provide protection of the shoulder area and head of         the user from collision or encounter with the side walls of the         bathing enclosure;         wherein the length of the left and right side edges of the side         protection panels is sufficient to allow the side protection         panels to provide protection of the lower body area of the user         from collision or encounter with the side walls of the bathing         enclosure; and         wherein in use of the device:     -   i) the device will be placed into the bathing enclosure with the         central axis of the flotation base approximately parallel to the         enclosure axis thereof and with the connecting edge of the         flotation base in proximity to the back wall of the bathing         enclosure;     -   ii) the left and right head protection panels will hinge forward         from the head protector towards the distal edge of the flotation         base; and     -   iii) the left and right side protection panels will hinge         upwards from the flotation base towards the top of the side         walls of the bathing enclosure; and     -   iv) the flotation base and the head protector will conform to         the lower body and the head of the user to maintain the body of         the user in approximate alignment with the enclosure axis.

There are numerous ways that the flotation base and the head protector could be made conformable to allow for maintenance of the body of the user in alignment with the desired axis that will be obvious to those skilled in the art and all are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. For example, the flotation base could consist of a plurality of buoyant base elements each having side edges which in the finished base will extend in the direction of the centre axis of the flotation base. By hingedly attaching the side edges of adjacent base elements to each other, the flotation base itself will have the ability to axially flex and bend in the direction of the centre axis of the flotation base in response to the weight of the user, and thus “envelope” the body of the user to a degree and hold or retain the body in safe position in relation to the enclosure axis.

Similarly, the head protector could consist of a plurality of buoyant protector elements each having side edges which in the finished protector will extend in the direction of the centre axis of the flotation base. By hingedly attaching the side edges of adjacent protector elements to each other, the head protector itself will have the ability to axially flex and bend in the direction of the centre axis of the flotation base in response to the weight of the head of the user, and thus hold or retain the head in safe position in relation to the enclosure axis.

By their nonconformable nature, the head protection panels and side protection panels will not flexibly collapse onto the head protector and flotation base, and will securely protection the body and head of the user in the tub or bathing enclosure in the situation of a seizure or other safety incident from unsafely encountering the side walls of the bathing enclosure.

The device could be situated in the tub or bathing enclosure and the user placed thereon in advance of filling the enclosure with water (since the buoyant nature of the components of the device would allow it to float once water was added), or the device could be positioned in a partially or desirably filled tub or enclosure and the user could enter the tub and lay on the device at that time.

Following bathing use of the device the removeable cover can be removed and cleaned, to maximize hygiene in applications or uses of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced. The drawings enclosed are:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the flotation device of the present invention without the removeable cover in place, showing the device in a flattened position;

FIG. 2 is a view of the device FIG. 1 showing the various components in their folded use configuration

FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 , showing a user positioned on the device;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 showing the conformation of the flotation base to the centre axis;

FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 , positioned in a bathtub without a user; and

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of FIG. 5 with the addition of a human user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the attached Figures, illustrative embodiments of the flotation device of the present invention are shown.

Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown a first embodiment of the flotation assist device 1 of the present invention, without a removable fabric cover in place. The device 1 is shown a flattened position simply to establish the language around the various elements of the device 1.

The first element of the flotation assist device 1 is a conformable buoyant flotation base 2 which has a connecting edge 3 and a distal edge 4 joined by left and right side edges 5, 6. The flotation base 2 is conformable to the back of an individual laying there on such that it will maintain the body of the individual in position along the central axis 7 of the flotation base 2.

Side protection panels 17, 18 are hingedly attached along edges 5 and 6 of the flotation base 2. The side protection panels 17, 18 are nonconforming but buoyant—they will float within the water enclosure when the device 1 is under the load of an occupant, but they will not conform to the body of the occupant so as to provide maximum side support and retention for the occupant in the effective creation of a comfortable three sided bathing trough configuration.

By their nonconformable nature, the head protection panels and side protection panels will not flexibly collapse onto the head protector and flotation base, and will securely protect the body and head of the user in the tub or bathing enclosure in the situation of a seizure or other safety incident from unsafely encountering the side walls of the bathing enclosure.

The flotation assistance device 1 further comprises a conformable buoyant head protector 8 having a head edge 9 and a connecting edge 10 connected by left and right side edges 11, 12. The connecting edges 3, 10 of the head protector 8 and the flotation base 2 are flexibly connected. The head protector 8 is conformable to the shoulder region and head of the individual in contact therewith to maintain said shoulder region and head in position along the centre axis 7.

Hingedly attached to the head protector 8 are non-conforming buoyant left and right head protection panels 13, 14, each of which have a side attachment edge 15, 16 respectively. Side attachment edge 15 is hingedly attached to side edge 11 of the head protector 8, and side attachment edge 16 is attached to side edge 12 of the head protector 8. This will allow the head protection panels 13, 14 to hinge forward from the head protector 8 when the device 1 is in position within a water enclosure.

The finished flotation assist device 1 also includes at least one removable fabric cover which will cover the remainder of the flotation assist device and which will provide an enhanced gripping surface to the flotation base when the device is in use, and which can be cleaned with traditional methods when removed. The removable fabric cover is not shown in FIG. 1 .

The width of the flotation base 2 and the head protector 8 between their respective left and right side edges is each approximately the width of the bathing enclosure between the side walls thereof. This will allow effectively for the creation of a full width conforming buoyant platform within the bathing enclosure to be formed by the flotation base 2 at the head protector 8 when in use. The nonconforming buoyant side protection panels 17, 18 and head protection panels 13, 14 will, as outlined above, hinge forward, in the case at the head protection panels and upward in the case of the side protection panels, when the device is floated within a bathing enclosure, creating retaining sidewalls to the device 1 and defining a comfortable trough shaped bathing area.

The length of the left and right side edges of the head protection panels is sufficient to allow the head protection panels to provide protection of the shoulder area and head of the occupant from collision or encounter with the side walls of the bathing enclosure, and the length of side protection panels is sufficient to allow the side protection panels to provide protection of the lower body area of the user from collision or encounter with the side walls of the bathing enclosure.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the flotation assist device 1 of the present invention hinged into the shape of the reclined bathing trough outlined above, for insertion into a bathing enclosure area. The removable fabric cover 20 is also shown by way of the crosshatched pattern on the device 1.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of the flotation assist device 1 of the present invention demonstrating the conform ability of the head protection section 8 and the flotation base 2 to the body parts of the occupant under load. The occupant is shown as 2. FIG. 4 is a line drawing showing again the conformability of certain components of the flotation assist device 1 to the body parts of the occupant 21 without a bathing enclosure being drawn in position.

There are numerous ways that the flotation base and the head protector could be made conformable to allow for maintenance of the body of the user in alignment with the desired axis that will be obvious to those skilled in the art and all are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. For example, the flotation base could consist of a plurality of buoyant base elements each having side edges which in the finished base will extend in the direction of the centre axis of the flotation base. By hingedly attaching the side edges of adjacent base elements to each other, the flotation base itself will have the ability to axially flex and bend in the direction of the centre axis of the flotation base in response to the weight of the user, and thus “envelope” the body of the user to a degree and hold or retain the body in safe position in relation to the enclosure axis.

Similarly, the head protector could consist of a plurality of buoyant protector elements each having side edges which in the finished protector will extend in the direction of the centre axis of the flotation base. By hingedly attaching the side edges of adjacent protector elements to each other, the head protector itself will have the ability to axially flex and bend in the direction of the centre axis of the flotation base in response to the weight of the head of the user, and thus hold or retain the head in safe position in relation to the enclosure axis.

FIGS. 5 and 6 demonstrate the placement of the flotation assist device 1 of the present invention in a bathing enclosure 22 being a bathtub.

In use of the device 1, the flotation assist device 1 will be placed into a bathing enclosure 22 with the central axis 7 of the flotation base 2 approximately parallel to an enclosure axis 23 of the bathing enclosure 22. The connecting edge 10 of the flotation base 2 will be in close proximity to the back wall 24 of the bathing enclosure 22. This will result in the upward hinging of the head protector 8 along the back wall 24 of the enclosure 22.

On placement of the device 1 into the enclosure 22 as outlined, the left and right head protection panels 13, 14 will hinge forward from the head protector 8 towards the distal edge 4 of the flotation base. Similarly the left and right side protection panels 17, 18 will also hinge, in this case upwards towards the top of the sidewalls 25 of the bathing enclosure 22. The device could be situated in the tub or bathing enclosure and the user placed thereon in advance of filling the enclosure with water (since the buoyant nature of the components of the device would allow it to float once water was added), or the device could be positioned in a partially or desirably filled tub or enclosure and the user could enter the tub and lay on the device at that time.

The flotation base 2 and the head protector 8 will conform to the lower body and the head of the occupant 21 to maintain the body of the occupant 21 in approximate alignment with the enclosure axis.

The removable fabric cover on the device will permit for cleaning when not in use and will also provide an additional gripping surface for the body of the occupant to increase safety and comfort during use.

Referring to FIG. 6 which shows the device 1 in place in an enclosure 22, there is shown in occupant 21 on the device. The conformity of the flotation base 2 and the head section 8 to accommodate the weight and shape of the body of the occupant 21 can be seen.

It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that by routine modification the present invention can be optimized for use in a wide range of conditions and application. It will also be obvious to those of skill in the art that there are various ways and designs with which to produce the apparatus and methods of the present invention. The illustrated embodiments are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but to provide examples of the apparatus and method to enable those of skill in the art to appreciate the inventive concept.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. The terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps not expressly referenced. 

1. A bathing flotation assist device in accordance with any embodiment of the enclosed specification.
 2. A bathing flotation assist device for use by an individual in a bathing enclosure having at least a back wall and side walls defining a water surface area when the bathing enclosure contains water, and an enclosure axis being approximately the direction of positioning of the body of a bather therein, said device comprising: a. a conformable buoyant flotation base having a connecting edge and a distal edge at the opposite end therefrom and left and right side edges extending therebetween, said flotation base being conformable to the back of the individual laying thereon such that it will maintain the body of the individual in position along the centre axis of the flotation base; b. a conformable buoyant head protector having a head edge and a connecting edge at the opposite end therefrom and left and right side edges extending therebetween, the connecting edges of the head protector and the flotation base being hingedly attached, said head protector being conformable to the shoulder region and head of the individual in contact therewith to maintain said shoulder region and head in position along the centre axis of the flotation base; c. nonconformable buoyant left and right head protection panels each having an attachment edge and left and right side edges, the attachment edges of the left and right protection panels being hingedly attached along the left and right edges of the head protector; d. nonconformable buoyant left and right side protection panels each having an attachment edge and left and right side edges, the attachment edges of the left and right side protection panels being hingedly attached along the left and right edges of the flotation base; and e. at least one removeable fabric cover which will cover the remainder of the flotation assist device and which will provide an enhanced gripping surface to the flotation base when the device is in use, and which can be cleaned with traditional methods when removed; wherein the width of the flotation base and head protector between their respective left and right side edges is approximately the width of the bathing enclosure between the side walls thereof; wherein the length of the left and right side edges of the head protection panels is sufficient to allow the head protection panels to provide protection of the shoulder area and head of the user from collision or encounter with the side walls of the bathing enclosure; and wherein the length of the left and right side edges of the side protection panels is sufficient to allow the side protection panels to provide protection of the lower body area of the user from collision or encounter with the side walls of the bathing enclosure. 